Dr. Sara Ford always knew she wanted to be a veterinarian. Early in her veterinary career, she realized there was a critical need for a foundation to address life-saving medical care for stray and unowned shelter and rescue animals who would otherwise be euthanized for lack of resources.

"I've unofficially been rescuing animals since high school," she said.

"It's five-course dinner with wines paired to each course, plus a champagne reception," said event chair and board member Dr. Mitzi Howard, also a veterinarian and specialist in emergency and critical care. "One of our donors is providing Veuve Clicquot. We've had a lot of nice wines donated by distributors."

Organizers are also selling raffle tickets for prizes that include wine and animal gift baskets plus dining certificates.

"Every dollar the public donates (to the foundation) goes directly to animal care. We have no paid staff members," explained Howard, a La Jolla resident. "Most of the animals that come into our foundation come from the shelter system or Humane Society, or other rescue organizations. Most are very sick or have serious injuries. They would be put to sleep at most other places."

"We try to choose animals that can be adopted out and make good, healthy pets. Occasionally we do special-needs animals," she added.

Foundation volunteers then find homes for the animals, through their own networks and Shelter Pet Partners.

Some of those "special needs" animals and rescued animals the foundation couldn't place "” currently five cats and two dogs "” now reside in La Jolla with Ford and her husband, a Camp Pendleton firefighter, and their four children, a 3-year-old son and 6-month-old triplets.

"There's a huge need for medical care for animals that are unowned," said Ford, a board certified veterinary specialist in internal medicine. "We see a lot of animal control (shelter) animals that are injured. They're either euthanized or healed. We treat them if funds are available."

Both Ford and Howard treat their animals at VCA Emergency Animal Hospital and Referral Center, a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital located on Hotel Circle South in Mission Valley. Howard explained that the hospital charges them reduced rates for essential services and supplies. Ford, Howard and their colleague, surgeon Dr. Holly Mullen, donate their professional services.

Ford saved up money over a two-year period hoping to start her foundation.

She was able to incorporate the S. Ford Foundation sooner than expected, thanks to a generous donation from Barbara and Barry Rosenbaum. They were grateful to Ford and her veterinary associates for saving the life of their dog Bart from a usually fatal illness.

The foundation now relies on donations from the public and the proceeds from their annual fund-raisers, the wine dinner and a golf tournament, to raise money to underwrite treatment costs for the animals.